Stalk-cutter.



3, R. WEATHERLY.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2, 1913.

1,095,252. Patented May 5, 1914.

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NEED 1 ATES rarnur OFFICE.

JOHN R. WEATHERLY, OF CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA.

STALK-CUTTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN R. WEATHERLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Charleston, in the county of Charleston and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stalk-Gutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in stalk cutters, and hasreference to that type of stalk cutter disclosed in my former Patents,#796,884, dated August 8, 1905, and #976,959, dated November 29,1910,and also patent to A. W. WVeatherly, 7 99,506, dated September 12, 1905.

The object of the present invention is to provide a structure comprisinga minimum number of parts, which is more simple in construction and lessexpensive to manufacture, and at the same time is more efficient in itsoperation by reason of the fact that the blades bear evenly upon thestalks tl'iroughout their length, thereby producing less strain upon thesuperstructure of the cutter.

With the foregoing objects in view, my invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations of parts which will behereinafter described and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation withthe near wheel removed; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is aview in side elevation with parts in section, showing the relativepositions of the parts when the cutter is raised out of operativeposition; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the lever for raising andlowering the cutter; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly in sectionof the cutter.

A represents the frame, the sides 1, 1, of which are preferably formedof angle iron, and the sides are connected together in the front by theangle iron 2, and in the rear by the bar 3. A tongue 4 is fastened atits rear end to the angle iron 2, and the forward ends of the sides 1,1, are secured to the tongue forwardly of its rear end. An axle 5 issecured to the frame A, and wheels 6, 6, are mounted on each end of theaxle.

The cutter frame B is pivotally mounted on the bar 3, and this frame iscomposed of sides 7, 7, which are bent substantially in the form of anL. The bar 8 connects the sides 7, 7, of the cutter frame, at their for-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. April 2, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Serial No. 758,359. 1

Ward end, and they are pivoted at their rear end to the bar 3.

A shaft 9 is journaled in the bearings 10, 10, carried by the cutterframe, and the cutter C is secured approximately at the center of theshaft. This cutter C is of virtuallv the same construction as thosedisclosed in the patents referred to, and is designed to perform thesame function with greater efliciency. The cutter is composed of a hub11, having bifurcated arms 12, 12, extending radially therefrom, and atthe outer ends of the arms 12, the blades 13, 13 are removably secured.I have found that in the use of a cutter of the form shown in my formerpatents, there is a tendency of the blades to bear unevenly upon thestalks, and I have therefore provided the bifurcated arms 12, to form asupport near each end of the cutter blades.

A U-shaped lever 14: is pivotally connected to the angle iron 2, in sucha manner that an end 15 of the U is at each side of the cutter frame.Links 16, 16, are pivotally connected to the ends 15 of the lever, andto the cutter frame B, and these links are adjustable through apluralityof openings 17 and 18, in the lever and cutter frame,respectively. One end 15 of the lever 14 is made longer than the other,and is bent rearwardly approximately at right angles to the portion 15,thereby forming a foot lever 19, which is held in its lowered positionby its engagement with a stop 19 on the frame A, and in its raisedposition is supported by the angle iron 2 of the frame. In either theraised or lowered position, the pivotal connection between the ends 15of the lever 14 and the links 16, would travel past the dead center, andwould thus form a positive lock for holding the cutter frame B rigid.

The middle portion 20 of the axle 5 is bowed up to form a greaterclearance for the cutter C when it is in its raised position, and theaxle is held in place by a spring 21 which carries the seat 22.

Spring teeth 23, 28 are pivotally supported as at 2 1, 24, to the underside of the tongue 4, and their function is to drag along the ground,being held down by gravity, and to straighten the plants and force theminwardly into the path of the cutter blades. A plate 25 is secured tothe under side of the tongue, and is provided at its extremities withhooks 26, 26, which are adapted to hold the spring teeth 23 raised, whenthe device is not in operation.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have provided a stalk cutterwhich has a minimum number of parts, and one which overcomes thewabbling from side to side, which is an objection in the structuresdisclosed in my former patents, by reason of the cutter frame being heldequally rigid at each side through its connection with the lever ends15, 1'5 and the links 16, 16. It will also be seen that when the deviceis adjusted to either the operative or inoperative position, the cutterframe is automatically locked by reason of the lever 14: passing thedead center when the device has assumed the operative or inoperativeposition, as clearly disclosed in Figs. 1 and 8.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is In a stalk-cutter, the combination with amainframe, cutter-frame, means for pivotally connecting the tWotogether, and a cross-bar connecting the sides of the mam frame, of aUshaped lever supported by and pivotally connected to said cross-bar,said lever having two ends, links extending from the free end of thecutter-frame to said ends, and a foot-lever extension extending from oneof the ends in position to be operated by the drivers foot to raise orlower the cutterframe, the foot-lever extending at an angle to the endof the U-shaped lever, positive stops in position to be engaged by thefootlever when the ends of the lever shall. have passed the dead centerin moving the cutterframe to either of its adjusted positions whereby toretain and lock the frame in that position, and the relation of the endsand links being such that in either extreme position of the foot-leverthey have crossed dead center.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN R. VVEATHERLY.

\Vitnesses J. lvloxsmnu'r, V. T. PRICE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

